Patrick cunningham



No Model.)

P. CUNNINGHAM.

COMBINED CARRYING BOX AND FIRING CHUTE FOR ROCKETS.

No. 455,279. Patented June 30,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, OF NE\V BEDFORD, MASSACIIUSE'ITS, ASSIGNOR TO THEAMERICAN CARRIER ROCKET COMPANY.

COMBINED CARRYING-BOX AND FIRING-CH UTE FOR ROCKETS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 455,279, dated June 30,1891. Application filed November 5, 1889. Serial No. 329,321. (Nomodel.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, PATRICK CUNNINGHAM, a citizen of the United States,and a'resident of New Redford, in the county of Bristol and State oflll'assaehusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCombined Carrying-Boxes and Firing-Chutes for Rockets, of which thefollowing is a specification. My invention relates especially to meansto and devices for transporting and firing rockets, particularly forline-carrying either on shipboard or upon land, and has for its objectthe provision of a box or a case wherein the rocket is placed fortransportation or storage, said case being adapted and arranged forinstant conversion into a firing chute or guide for the rocket.

To attain the desired end my invention consists, essentially,in a box orcase, of any suitable material, but preferably wood, adapted andarranged to hold a rocket. This case is provided with a cover hingedtothe body of the'case or made movable, without hinges or otherfastenings, and also a hinged end piece; or said end piece may bewithout hinges or other fastenings. The extremity of the case oppositeto the movable or hinged end is provided with spurs for holding the casein asecure position while the rocket is being fired; and my inventionalso involves certain other novel and useful combinations orarrangements of parts and peculiarities of construction and operation,all of which will be hereinatter first fully described,and then pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improvedrocket-box. Fig. 2 is an end view of the same with the cover and endpiece thrown back. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the rocket inplace for firing. Fig. l is a perspective view showing the cover and endpiece removed together from the chute.

Like letters of reference, wherever they oocur, indicate correspondingparts in all the figures.

A is the body of the box.

, B is the cover hinged tothe body at C. The cover is provided near oneextremity with a groove 1).

purposes,-

E is an end piece hinged to the bottom of the box at F and provided atits upper edge with a tongue or fillet G, adapted and arranged to fitinto the groove D in the cover.

ll are hasps secured to the cover and engaging with staples I in thebody of the box when the cover is closed, the hasps being held upon thestaples by pins K.

L are metal spurs secured to the bottom of the box for engaging with thedeck or other object upon which the box rests when the, rocket is fired,holding the box against displacement.

P is a rocket resting in the box and ready to be fired. 6;

When constructed and arranged as above described, my combinedrocket-case and firing-chute will be found admirably adapted to the usesand purposes for which it is intended.

The box forms a secure case for transportation or storage, and when therocket is required for use the box is placed in a convenient position,the pinswhhch secure the cover knocked out, permitting the throwing backof the cover and of the end piece, when all that is necessary to be doneis to attach a line to the tail of the rocket and lire the rocket, allof which requires but a few moments of time. 7

I have shown the cover as hinged to the side of the box and the endpiece hinged to the bottom, these being the most convenient methods ofarrangement; but it is obvious that the end piece might be secured tothe cover and the cover hinged to t he body of the box atthe oppositeextremity, or the cover and end might be made removable entirely, eithertogether-or separately, with or without hinges or other fastenings,withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein,anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is.

l. A combined carrying-box and firingchute for rockets, in which is comprised a box 95 having the sides and one end permanently secured to thebottom, a movable end piece provided at its upper edge with a projectingtongue, and a movable cover having near one end a groove adapted andarranged to receive I00 said tongue when the cover is in position on thebox, substantially as shown and described.

2. A combined carrying-box and firingchute for kets, having a movablecover and end piece and spurs projecting from the bottom of the box atthe end thereof for pre- Venting the shifting of the chute when inposition for firing the rocket, substantially as shown and described.

3. A combined carrying case or box and firing-chute for rockets, inwhich is comprised a body provided with a hinged cover bearing haspsadapted and arranged to engage with staples fixed in the side of the boxwhen the 15 cover is closed, a hinged/end piece held in placed by theclosed cover, and spurs secured to the bottom of the body of the box orcase at the extremity opposite to the movable end,

substantially as shown and described. 20 Signed at New Bedford, in thecounty of Bristol and State of Massachusetts, this 6th day of September,A. D. 1889.

PATRICK CUNNINGHAM:

Witnesses:

ARTHUR M. PIERCE, S. D. Mom.

